Carlitta Durand is a vocalist from North Carolina, in with Foreign Exchange and Little Brother, but she’s always been just a feature. She’s dropped a few EPs including The Doug & Patty EP [free download from BlindIfortheKids] and Nostalgic Nights [free download from 2DopeBoyz], which includes the track for this video, “iCarli.” While we wait for a full-length Carlitta Durand album, watch the video, download those EPs and check out her covers and things on Youtube.

If you are among the lucky ones heading south to Austin for the annual SXSW festival then you need to make note of the following showcase (trust me, you will kick yourself if you miss this one): On Friday, March 18th, Giant Step teams up with Tru Thoughts, ESL Music and Bastard Jazz to bring you a night of music you will not forget. Showcasing Nickodemus, Belleruche (Tru Thoughts), Ancient Astronauts (ESL Music), DJ Obah (Dubspot), Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts), DJ DRM (Bastard Jazz), Barry Cole and Giant Step’s own Erik The Red. The usually quiet Kenichi will be conquered by the beat, and turned into a haven of music starting at 7:00pm. Entrance is free, but strictly RSVP, so come ready to get sexy and get down.

On Friday, March 25th, Grammy nominated house music impresario Dennis Ferrer brings his annual Objektivity event back to Miami for Ultra Week. With an all-star cast and a new project – under the moniker NeuWave Renegades – Ferrer alongside a rotation of friends who represent something of the spirit of US house music take over Miami’s Grand Central with a two room extravaganza like no other, with Kerri Chandler, The Martinez Brothers, Karizma, Kyle Hall, DJ Qu and so many others. As a special offer to our community, Giant Step is offering advance tickets at an exclusive discount rate, so make sure you get your ticket today because you know this event is going to sell out.

In a career spanning over twenty years, Femi Kuti has been able to find his own voice while preserving the memory of his father, Fela Kuti. Following his 2008 album Day By Day and ushering in a more aggressive but pointed style of music, Africa for Africa will be released on March 22nd on Knitting Factory Records. Femi’s offerings on Africa for Africa show that although an heir in the family lineage of Fela, Femi is carving out his own space in the great history of Afrobeat and African Music. Africa for Africa aims to present Afrobeat in its rough, purest form. After the jump, get more info and check out Femi’s upcoming North American tour dates for April and May.

This edition of GPWW continues its mission of “searching for the perfect beat, each and every week, whether it be new or old music” as Gilles Peterson states again. Inspired by the recent BBC documentary Reggae Britannia, he dedicates a segment to roots reggae music from the likes of Yellowman, Alton Lewis, and Delroy Wilson among others. Later in the show he also dedicates a mix segment to the memory of “the iconic Serge Gainsbourg“, as well as a Jazz mix provided by Joe the producer to cap it off.